Customizing Arrangements of Widgets in a User Interface

This application claims benefit under 35 USC§ 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/694,148 |filed Sep. 12, 2024, and entitled “Customizing Arrangements of Widgets in a User Interface,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are the predominant type of interfaces available to users for interacting with computer systems. A GUI includes interactive widgets that surface real-time information from available computing services. The interactive widgets may be displayed within the GUI according to a predefined arrangement. In response to one or more inputs, a user may navigate within the GUI to a desired widget to view content from the underlying computing service. In response to further interaction with the desired widget, the underlying computing service may be executed to present additional content from the computing service.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques for better content generation and navigation in a graphical user interface (GUI). In some embodiments, a method implemented by a computer system is provided. The method may include determining profile information associated with a user of the computer system. The method may further include presenting a page in a graphical user interface (GUI). The method may further include determining, based on the profile information, a first template that indicates a first arrangement of interactive GUI widgets to be presented in the page, the first arrangement being different from that of a second template of a plurality of templates, each indicating an arrangement of a plurality of interactive GUI widgets. The method may further include presenting, based on the first template, the interactive GUI widgets in the page arranged according to the first arrangement.

In some embodiments, the profile information comprises one or more interests of the user determined from one or more account settings for an account associated with the user. In some embodiments, the profile information comprises one or more interests of the user determined from historical interactions by the user with content related to each of the one or more interests.

In some embodiments, the page comprises a first portion that is immediately visible upon presenting the page and a second portion that becomes visible in response to navigation inputs, and determining the first template comprises determining that a subset of the interactive GUI widgets that will be presented in the first portion based on the first arrangement are relevant to the profile information associated with the user.

In some embodiments, the page comprises a plurality of display positions in a structured layout and the first arrangement defines a display position and a presentation state within the structured layout for each of the interactive GUI widgets. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of display positions has a uniform size within the structured layout and the display position and the presentation state for an interactive GUI widget defines a starting display position within the structured layout and a number of display positions occupied by the interactive GUI widget within the structured layout.

In some embodiments, determining the first template comprises selecting the first template from the plurality of templates based on a relevance of the first template to the profile information associated with the user. In some embodiments, determining the first template comprises determining a relevance of each of the interactive GUI widgets to the profile information associated with the user and determining, based on the relevance of each of the interactive GUI widgets, an order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets within the page. In some embodiments, presenting the interactive GUI widgets according to the first arrangement comprises presenting the interactive GUI widgets in the determined order. In some embodiments, the page comprises a first portion that is immediately visible upon presenting the page, and determining the first template further comprises determining a display position and a display size for each of a subset of the interactive GUI widgets that will be displayed in the first portion of the page based on a size of the first portion.

In some embodiments, the interactive GUI widgets indicated by the first arrangement include a first subset of the plurality of interactive GUI widgets, the first subset being different from that of the second template. In some embodiments, the interactive GUI widgets indicated by the first arrangement are the same as that of the second template and a first order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets according to the first arrangement is different from that of the second template. In some embodiments, the interactive GUI widgets indicated by the first arrangement are the same as that of the second template and a size of presenting at least one of the interactive GUI widgets according to the first arrangement is different from that of the second template.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a request to review the plurality of templates; presenting, while the interactive GUI widgets remain visible in the page, a template menu comprising the first template, the plurality of templates, and an indication that the first template is currently selected; receiving, via the template menu, an interaction with the second template; and presenting, while the template menu remains visible, the interactive GUI widgets in the page according to a second arrangement of the second template.

In some embodiments, the profile information comprises a geographic location associated with the computer system and determining the first template is further based on the geographic location.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving, via the GUI, a modification to the first arrangement indicated by the first template, resulting in a new arrangement of the interactive GUI widgets within the page; creating a new template with the new arrangement based on the modification; and storing the new template as a custom template with the plurality of templates. The method may further include: receiving, via the GUI, a subsequent modification to the new arrangement, resulting in a further modified arrangement; and updating the new template with the further modified arrangement in response to receiving the subsequent modification. The method may further include: receiving, via the GUI, a request to present the interactive GUI widgets in the page according to a different arrangement of a different template of the plurality of templates; presenting the interactive GUI widgets in the page arranged according to the different template; receiving, via the GUI, a subsequent modification to the different arrangement, resulting in a subsequent arrangement; and updating the new template with the subsequent arrangement in response to receiving the subsequent modification.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a notification comprising information about a new computing service available to the computer system; displaying a temporary interactive GUI widget at a beginning of the first arrangement in the page, the temporary interactive GUI widget including the information about the new computing service; and removing, in response to an interaction with the temporary interactive GUI widget, the temporary interactive GUI widget from the first arrangement.

In some embodiments, a computer system is provided. The computer system may comprise one or more processors and one or more memories storing computer-readable instructions. Upon execution by the one or more processors, the computer-readable instructions may configure the computer system to determine profile information associated with a user of the computer system. The computer system may be further configured to present a page in a graphical user interface (GUI). The computer system may be further configured to determine, based on the profile information, a first template that indicates a first arrangement of interactive GUI widgets to be presented in the page, the first arrangement being different from that of a second template of a plurality of templates, each indicating an arrangement of a plurality of interactive GUI widgets. The computer system may be further configured to present, based on the first template, the interactive GUI widgets in the page arranged according to the first arrangement.

In some embodiments, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media are provided. The computer-readable media may store computer-readable instructions that, upon execution on a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising determining profile information associated with a user of the computer system. The operations may further comprise presenting a page in a graphical user interface (GUI). The operations may further comprise determining, based on the profile information, a first template that indicates a first arrangement of interactive GUI widgets to be presented in the page, the first arrangement being different from that of a second template of a plurality of templates, each indicating an arrangement of a plurality of interactive GUI widgets. The operations may further comprise presenting, based on the first template, the interactive GUI widgets in the page arranged according to the first arrangement.

In some embodiments, a method implemented by a computer system is provided. The method may include presenting, based on a first template, an arrangement of interactive graphical user interface (GUI) widgets in a page. The method may further include presenting, in response to a request to edit the arrangement, and while the arrangement in the page remains visible, a set of editing controls each corresponding to an interactive GUI widget of the interactive GUI widgets, the set comprising a first editing control corresponding to a first interactive GUI widget. The method may further include presenting, in response to an interaction with the first editing control, and while the page continues to be presented, a modification to the first interactive GUI widget in the arrangement according to the interaction with the first editing control.

In some embodiments, each editing control comprises one or more selectable options for modifying a display of the corresponding interactive GUI widget. In some embodiments, each interactive GUI widget is associated with a corresponding service provided by the computer system and each editing control of the set of editing controls includes an indication of the service of the corresponding interactive GUI widget.

In some embodiments, the arrangement indicates an order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets in the page. In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to remove the first interactive GUI widget from the arrangement and presenting the modification comprises removing the first interactive GUI widget from the page. In some embodiments, presenting the modification further comprises shifting a subset of the interactive GUI widgets that were lower in the order than the first interactive GUI widget into a higher display position within the order. In some embodiments, the set of editing controls are presented according to the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets, and the method further comprises presenting the first editing control at an end of the set of editing controls in response to the selection of the option to remove the first interactive GUI widget from the arrangement.

In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to add the first interactive GUI widget to the arrangement of interactive GUI widgets in the page and presenting the modification comprises adding the first interactive GUI widget to an end of the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets. In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to add the first interactive GUI widget to the arrangement of interactive GUI widgets in the page and presenting the modification comprises adding the first interactive GUI widget at a first position within the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets and shifting a subset of interactive GUI widgets down within the order. In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to move the first interactive GUI widget to a new position within the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets and presenting the modification comprises displaying the first interactive GUI widget at the new position within the order and shifting a subset of the interactive GUI widgets that are lower in the order than the new position. In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to resize the first interactive GUI widget from the arrangement and presenting the modification comprises increasing or decreasing a display size of the first interactive GUI widget within the arrangement.

In some embodiments, the interaction is a selection of the first editing control from the set of editing controls and presenting the modification comprises emphasizing the first interactive GUI widget relative to other interactive GUI widgets in the page. In some embodiments, emphasizing the first interactive GUI widget comprises changing a display opacity of the first interactive GUI widget relative to display opacities of the other interactive GUI widgets in the page.

In some embodiments, presenting the modification to the first interactive GUI widget results in a new arrangement of the interactive GUI widgets in the page and the method further comprises: creating, in further response to the interaction with the first editing control, a new template with the new arrangement based on the modification; and storing the new template as a custom template with a plurality of templates including the first template.

In some embodiments, the arrangement is different from that of a second template of a plurality of templates, and the method further comprises: presenting, in response to a request to review the plurality of templates, and while the page continues to be presented, a template menu comprising the first template, the plurality of templates, and an indication that the first template is currently selected; receiving, via the template menu, an interaction with a second template from the plurality of templates; and presenting, while the template menu remains visible, the interactive GUI widgets in the page according to a second arrangement of the second template.

In some embodiments, a computer system is provided. The computer system may comprise: one or more processors; and one or more memories storing computer-readable instructions. Upon execution by the one or more processors, the computer-readable instructions may configure the computer system to present, based on a first template, an arrangement of interactive graphical user interface (GUI) widgets in a page. The computer system may be further configured to present, in response to a request to edit the arrangement, and while the arrangement in the page remains visible, a set of editing controls each corresponding to an interactive GUI widget of the interactive GUI widgets, the set comprising a first editing control corresponding to a first interactive GUI widget. The computer system may be further configured to present, in response to an interaction with the first editing control, and while the page continues to be presented, a modification to the first interactive GUI widget in the arrangement according to the interaction with the first editing control.

In some embodiments, the arrangement indicates an order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets in the page. In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to remove the first interactive GUI widget from the arrangement. In some embodiments, presenting the modification comprises: removing the first interactive GUI widget from the page; and shifting a subset of the interactive GUI widgets that were lower in the order than the first interactive GUI widget into a higher display position within the order. In some embodiments, the set of editing controls are presented according to the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets, and the computer system is further configured to present the first editing control at an end of the set of editing controls in response to the selection of the option to remove the first interactive GUI widget from the arrangement.

In some embodiments, the interaction with the first editing control comprises a selection of an option to add the first interactive GUI widget to the arrangement of interactive GUI widgets in the page, and presenting the modification comprises adding the first interactive GUI widget at a first position within the order of presenting the interactive GUI widgets and shifting a subset of interactive GUI widgets down within the order.

In some embodiments, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions are provided. Upon execution on a computer system, the computer-readable instructions may cause the computer system to perform operations comprising presenting, based on a first template, an arrangement of interactive graphical user interface (GUI) widgets in a page. The operations may further comprise presenting, in response to a request to edit the arrangement, and while the arrangement in the page remains visible, a set of editing controls each corresponding to an interactive GUI widget of the interactive GUI widgets, the set comprising a first editing control corresponding to a first interactive GUI widget. The operations may further comprise presenting, in response to an interaction with the first editing control, and while the page continues to be presented, a modification to the first interactive GUI widget in the arrangement according to the interaction with the first editing control.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

Generally, systems and methods for improving the display of widgets in a graphical user interface (GUI) are described. Typically, widgets are displayed in a GUI in accordance with a predefined template that dictates their arrangement, order, and/or size, as well as a starting point for navigating through the widgets. In certain situations, widgets that are placed earlier in the order, or that are displayed more prominently, do not correspond to a user's current or general interests. In such cases, the user may end up navigating past a number of widgets to view a desired widget. Repeated navigation to desired widgets may result in unnecessary resource consumption by the computer system, decreased engagement with new computing services that may be surface through widgets, and a diminished user experience.

Hence, although a GUI can be an effective user interface to surface relevant information from available computing services, there is a need for an improved GUI that takes a user's interests into account, enables subsequent customization, and provides intuitive and streamlined navigation through the native interface. To illustrate, consider an example of a video game system. The video game system can host a menu application and a dashboard application. The dashboard application can generate a plurality of widgets for display within a page provided by the menu application. The widgets may correspond to various applications and services available on the video game system. A video game player can login to the video game system. Upon a user button push on a video game controller, a menu can be presented and can include different tiles. Each tile corresponds to an application or service. To view content or other information from a particular application or service, the user can navigate through the menu to the tile corresponding to the particular application or service and select the tile to launch the application or service. The video game system may then execute the application and/or service, or otherwise transfer control over the GUI to the application. The user may then navigate within the GUI provided by the application and/or service to view the desired content or other information.

To reduce the redundancy of menu presentation, and additional processing associated with navigating through the menu and launching individual applications and/or service, the menu application may provide a dashboard interface or page to surface a collection of relevant content and information from various applications and/or services to the user. The dashboard application may populate the dashboard with a plurality of widgets. Each widget may display content and/or other information from an underlying application or service. The plurality of widgets may be displayed according to one of a number of predefined arrangements or templates. Each arrangement may be predefined to align with possible interests of the user. The dashboard application may determine the interests of the user from one or more account settings and/or historical interactions with content. The dashboard application may select the predefined arrangement of widgets that corresponds to the interest of the user and present the widgets in the page provided by the menu application.

To further reduce the redundancy of navigating within the page of widgets, the dashboard application may provide one or more interfaces and/or options for switching between predefined templates, editing predefined templates, and creating new templates. The dashboard application may cause the one or more interfaces and/or options concurrently with the display of the widgets in the page. In response to an interaction by the user with an interface or option, the dashboard application may cause the display of widgets in the page to be updated accordingly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide several advantages over existing GUIs and their underlying computer systems. For example, a page of widgets according to a predefined template arrangement that aligns with a user's interests streamlines navigation within the page of widgets. In particular, menu redundancy is reduced by presenting UI elements that otherwise would have necessitated additional navigation by the user in a portion of the page that is immediately visible to the user. Concurrently displaying options for modifying the display of widgets, as well as their modifications, further streamlines navigation and reduces menu redundancy by eliminating the need for a user to navigate to a separate settings page to make changes to the arrangement of widgets and then navigate back to the page to view the effect of the changes. Such improvements may reduce system computational demands arising from the need to otherwise navigate large menus with a large number of icons, and may improve user experience by reducing frustration and fatigue caused by inefficient menu navigation.

In the interest of clarity of explanation, the embodiments may be described in connection with a video game system including a video game console. However, the embodiments are not limited as such and similarly apply to any other type of a computer system. Generally, a computer system presents a dashboard in a GUI on a display. The dashboard presents UI elements, each corresponding to an application, service, or collection of information.

1 FIG. 110 120 130 110 110 120 130 122 120 110 130 112 130 110 110 illustrates a computer system that presents a dashboard, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the computer system includes a video game console, a video game controller, and a display. Although not shown, the computer system may also include a backend system, such as a set of cloud servers, that is communicatively coupled with the video game console. The video game consoleis communicatively coupled with the video game controller(e.g., over a wireless network) and with the display(e.g., over a communications bus). A video game playeroperates the video game controllerto interact with the video game console. These interactions may include playing a video game presented on the display, interacting with a dashboardpresented on the display, and interacting with other applications of the video game console(e.g., with media applications to stream media from an online content source or to play a media file from the local storage of the video game console).

110 110 110 140 142 144 146 148 140 142 144 146 148 110 110 122 110 122 110 110 150 152 154 150 130 152 154 The video game consoleincludes a processor and a memory (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) storing computer-readable instructions that can be executed by the processor and that, upon execution by the processor, cause the video game consoleto perform operations related to various applications. In particular, the computer-readable instructions can correspond to program codes for the various applications of the video game consoleincluding video game application, music application, video application, social media application, and news application. A video game application, such as video game application, generally represents a computer application executable to present video game content, receive user interaction with the video game content, and accordingly update the video game content. A media application, such as music application, video application, social media application, and news application, generally represents a computer application executable to present media content including audio, video, and/or other media types, receive user interaction with the media content, and accordingly update the media content. The media content can be streamed from a remote content source or can be presented form local storage of the video game console. Further, other applications can be likewise included in the video game console, such as a chat application. The availability of a video game application, media application, and/or other type of computer application to the video game playervia the video game consolecan depend on a user identifier of the video game player(e.g., upon a login to the video game console, the availability of the computer applications can depend on the user identifier used in the login). In addition, the video game consoleincludes a menu application, a dashboard application, and a switcher application. The menu applicationcan present a home user interface (UI) in a GUI of the display. The dashboard applicationcan present an arrangement of interactive UI widgets in a dashboard page on the GUI. And the switcher applicationcan present a ribbon of UI elements in a ribbon menu on the GUI to allow scrolling between different UI elements and switching between corresponding applications.

120 120 122 110 130 122 122 The video game controlleris an example of an input device. The video game controllermay allow the userto interact with one or more GUIs presented by the video game consolon the display. For example, using one or more directional control inputs (e.g., a joystick and/or a directional pad) the user can navigate to and within various menus, dashboards, and UI elements. Other types of the input device are possible including, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a touchpad, a mouse, an optical system, a microphone, a camera, or other user devices suitable for receiving input of a user. For example, a microphone may allow the userto interact with the GUIs using various voice commands. As another example, a camera may allow the userto interact with the GUIs using various gesture commands.

140 110 110 130 120 112 112 110 110 112 112 Upon an execution of the video game applicationby the video game console, a rendering process of the video game consolepresents video game content (e.g., illustrated as a car race video game content) on the display. Upon user input from the video game controller(e.g., a user push of a particular key or button), the rendering process also presents the menu. Additionally, or alternatively, the menumay be presented as an initial landing page in response to a user powering-on the video game consoleand/or waking the video game consolfrom a suspended state. Depending on the user input, the menucorresponds to the home UI page, a landing page, or the like. The menucan be presented in a layer over the video game content.

112 140 150 120 112 150 152 154 112 122 112 112 112 140 Upon the presentation of the menu, the user control changes from the video game applicationto the menu application. Upon receiving a user input from the video game controllerrequesting interactions with the menu, an underlying application (e.g., the menu application, the dashboard application, or the switcher applicationas applicable) supports such interactions by updating the menuand launching any relevant application in the background or foreground. The video game playercan exit the menuor automatically dismiss the menuupon the launching of an application in the background or foreground. Upon exiting the menuor the dismissal based on a background application launch, the user control changes from the underlying application to the video game application.

152 110 152 152 As described in more detail below, the dashboard application, when executed, may generate a dashboard (e.g., a “widget menu,” “landing page,” and/or “explore page”) configured to present information from applications and services available to the video game consoleas interactive UI widgets. The term “widget” is used herein as an example of an interactive UI element generated and/or presented by the dashboard applicationand corresponding to an application or service of the computer system. Other implementations to present a UI element are possible, including any type of icon, whether a widget, a tile, a thumbnail, a text description, a multiple column element with textual or graphical description in each column, and the like. As described further, below, widgets may be presented with application information and/or dynamic content presented with the widget in a media library. For example, the dashboard applicationmay generate and/or present widgets associated with media applications, system applications and/or services, video game applications, or the like.

152 152 120 122 110 110 112 As described in more detail below, the dashboard applicationmay be executed via multiple avenues of ingress. For example, the dashboard applicationmay be executed by a pre-defined user interaction (e.g., via controller, a voice command from the video game player, activating and/or powering-on the video game consoletc.) and/or by navigating one or more menus and/or sub-menus of the video game console(e.g., menu).

154 154 In general, the switcher applicationmay facilitate selection of a first subset of tiles to present in an immediate selection area of a library interface, as described in more detail below. The switcher applicationmay populate the first subset of tiles with tiles associated with system applications, video game applications, other forms of content, etc.

1 FIG. 110 110 Althoughillustrates that the different applications are executed on the video game console, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited as such. Instead, the applications can be executed on the backend system (e.g., the cloud servers) and/or their execution can be distributed between the video game consoleand the backend system.

2 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 200 205 210 200 154 205 152 210 200 200 illustrates an example of a menu interfacewith an immediate selection areaand a dashboard area, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As described above, the menu interfaceis generated and/or presented by one or more system applications, or a combination of more than one system application. For example, a switcher application (e.g., switcher applicationof) may generate and/or present the immediate selection area. Additionally and/or alternatively, a dashboard application (e.g., dashboard applicationof) may generate and/or present the dashboard area. In some embodiments, a single application generates the menu interface.illustrates the menu interfaceprovided on a video game console, but alternative and/or additional embodiments include different computer systems including, but not limited to, those described above.

2 FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 200 200 204 205 204 122 200 204 200 204 200 As shown in, the menu interfaceis a user interface (UI) that includes one or more types of UI elements. As illustrated, the menu interfaceincludes tilesin the immediate selection area. The tilesmay be associated with an application and/or service available to the user of a video game console (e.g., video game playerof) generating and/or presenting the menu interface. As illustrated in, the tilesmay have a uniform presentation including a uniform size and regular spacing in the menu interface. Additionally, or alternatively, user interaction may be facilitated by one of the tileswith which the user is interacting being emphasized. For example, the menu interfacemay present a given tile with a larger or different size, or with different highlighting, to emphasize that the user selection will launch the application or service associated with the given tile.

200 206 210 206 As further illustrated, the menu interfaceincludes widgetsin the dashboard area. The widgetsmay be associated with various applications and/or services available to the user of a video game console. As described herein, a widget may be an interactive UI element that displays content from an application and/or service available to the user of the video game console. For example, widgets may show system status information, such as battery levels for one or more remote control devices connected to the computer system, storage usage for one or more memories or hard drives connected to and/or integrated within the computer system. As another example, widgets may display content previews from various applications, such as a poster for a new video game that a user can access, headlines from various news sources, image highlights from a user's media library, or the like. In yet another example, widgets may display summary statistics from applications, such as in-game achievement summaries, on-line friends, chat summaries, or the like.

200 In response to interactions with a widget, the widget may be updated to show additional information, such as a description of a new game, a recent message from a chat contact, a summary of a news article, a media browser, or the like. In some embodiments, widgets are expanded to show additional information in response to user interaction. For example, in response to a widget being selected, the widget may be expanded into an overlay window over all or a portion of the menu interface. Additionally, or alternatively, in response to a widget being selected, an underlying application associated with the selected widget may be launched to take control over the display. In some embodiments, widgets can display information and/or content in a carousel format. For example, a list of screenshots could be cycled through via predefined user inputs of one or more control devices. In some embodiments, the information displayed within a widget is configurable. In response to user interaction with a widget, a user may update a context of the widget to alter how and/or what the widget displays. For example, a context for a media gallery widget can be updated to switch between displays of media at random, based on the recency of the media, based on a user rating (e.g., favorite content), media associated with achievements of the user, or the like.

Examples of widgets may include an “online friends” widget that displays the avatars, names, and/or activity of friends who are currently online (e.g., logged in using their respective computer systems and device). Interactions with an “online friends” widget may include navigations within a carousel of friends. Another example may include a “storage summary” widget that displays: graphic representations of different levels of current storage in different applications on internal and external hard drives; the amount of data occupied by games, media libraries, saved data, and other applications; or the like. A “news” widget may display a singular representation of news from an application developer, the developer/manufacturer of the computer system, or the like. In response to an interaction with a “news” widget, additional information about the piece of news may be presented. A “store” application may display background art, logos, names, availability, pricing, and other information for new games and/or applications that are available for purchase by the user from an application store or marketplace. a “trophies” widget may display the total number of trophies or other accomplishments of the user, a level of the user, how close the user is to achieving a next level, and/or a breakdown of the players trophies and/or other accomplishments. A “wishlist” widget may display items (e.g., games, media content, applications, etc.) that the user has recently added to a wishlist for later purchase or download. A “battery level” widget may display graphical representations of the remaining battery life of accessory/peripheral devices (e.g., remote controls, headsets, etc) connected to the computer system, the names of the devices, or the like. A “media gallery” widget may display recent screenshots or other media saved to a media library by the user. A “friends activity” widget may display cover art or a trophy with a description of an activity completed by a friend, as well as an identification of the friend, such as the friend's avatar, name, and/or online status. A “messages” widget may display recent messages sent/received by the user to/from one or more friends. In response to interaction with a “messages” widget, a user may be able to type and send a message to a friend, view a history of messages, and/or switch between different conversations. An “accessibility” widget may display a cover image and, in response to interaction with the widget, may provide a user with access to one or more settings to improve the usability and/or accessibility of the functionalities provided by the computer system. A “live broadcast” widget may display

200 205 210 205 210 200 The menu interfaceis broadly separated into two areas, the immediate selection areaand the dashboard area. As described above, the immediate selection areaprovides streamlined access to a subset of recently accessed and/or obtained applications and/or services from a full library of applications and/or services available to the user of the computer system. As further described below, the dashboard areaprovides streamlined access to a collection of information from multiple applications and/or services that is most likely to be of interest to the user based on their preferences and/or current context. Users may thereby find information and updates from across the many applications and services available on the computer system without navigating to each individual application and/or service. In addition to providing an improvement to the operation of the video game console, the menu interfacemay also provide an improved user experience, at least in part by permitting the user of the video game console to spend relatively less time selecting an application from amongst the available applications, and/or switching seamlessly between applications.

210 210 208 212 214 216 210 200 208 218 200 200 220 210 225 210 225 200 220 200 210 210 208 In some embodiments, the dashboard areahas a predefined display structure. For example, and as illustrated, the dashboard areamay have a tabular structuredefined by a number of rowsand columns, with each cellcorresponding to a display position for all or a portion of a widget. The predefined display structure of the dashboard areamay be larger than the total display area of the menu interface. For example, and as further illustrated, the tabular structuremay extend beyond an edgeof the menu interface. Depending on the size of the menu interface, the predefined display structure may be separated into a first portionthat is immediately visible upon displaying the dashboard areaand a second portionthat is initially hidden. In response to one or more user interactions, such as a user scrolling to the right within dashboard area, widgets in the second portionmay come into view from the right edge of the menu interfacewhile widgets in the first portionat the left edge of the menu interfacego out of view. In some embodiments, the predefined display structure of the dashboard areamay be expandable to accommodate additional or fewer widgets. For example, as additional widgets are added to the dashboard area, additional columns and/or rows may be added to tabular structureto create additional display positions for the additional widgets.

210 208 208 208 Widgets may occupy one or more display positions within the predefined display structure of the dashboard area. For example, and as illustrated, widgets may occupy two or more adjacent display positions within a column of tabular structure. Additionally, or alternatively, widgets may occupy two or more adjacent display positions in a row of tabular structure. In some embodiments, widgets may occupy display positions within two or more columns and/or rows. For example, widgets may occupy a two-by-two or three-by-three grid of display positions within tabular structure.

206 210 210 210 While illustrated and described in reference to a tabular structure, additional structures and/or layouts may be used to organize the widgetswithin dashboard area, such as a circular and/or carousel type structure. Additionally, or alternatively, dashboard areamay simply use coordinates and display sizes to achieve a more freeform presentation of widgets. For example, dashboard areamay define a range of coordinates within which widgets may be displayed, and each widget may then be associated with a two-dimensional range of coordinates within which the widget will be displayed. Additionally, or alternatively, while illustrated and described in reference to rectangular widgets, additional shapes and/or sizes of widgets may be used, such as circular, square, ovoid, or the like.

152 As described above, widgets may correspond to various application and/or services available to a user of a computer system. Each widget may be provided as an interface to the underlying application and/or service. Additionally, or alternatively, a system application, such as the dashboard application, may define an interface through which the applications and/or services may provide the intended content for display within a widget.

210 210 220 210 220 210 The display of widgets within the dashboard areamay be in accordance with one or more templates. A template may define a selection of the available widgets that should be included in the dashboard area, their order of display (e.g., their associated display positions), the theme of the widgets (e.g., color, contrast, shading, shape, font, text size, icon appearances, etc.), as well as their presentation state (e.g., how many display positions will be occupied, and in what orientation). As described further below, templates may be predefined based on the interests of broad groups of users and/or custom made for an individual user. Based on the interests of a group of users, and/or an individual user, templates may be defined so that the most relevant widgets, and their associated underlying information, are immediately available or otherwise visible within the first portionof the dashboard area. By defining templates that arrange the most relevant widgets within the first portion, additional system navigation, whether within dashboard areaor to individual applications and/or services, may be reduced, thereby minimizing unnecessary resource consumption by the computer system from launching underlying applications, as well as increasing user productivity and satisfaction.

3 FIG. 3 FIG. 1 FIG. 300 350 300 310 310 152 310 312 314 318 316 317 310 300 310 310 310 362 350 a l illustrates an example of a computer systemthat presents a dashboardpopulated with widgets, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, the computer systemincludes a dashboard application. The dashboard applicationmay be the same, or function in a similar manner as the dashboard applicationdescribed in relation to. The dashboard applicationmay include an order determining unit, an interest determining unit, a template determining unit, an arrangement determining unit, and a template editing unit. These are described as sub elements of the dashboard application, but may also be different applications of the computer system, providing data to the dashboard applicationfor the dashboard applicationto perform operations. The dashboard applicationmay determine templates for displaying widgets-in the dashboard.

362 300 302 304 304 300 304 300 304 300 302 300 306 302 302 330 a l As described above, the widgets-may be interactive UI widgets that display information and/or content from applications executing on, or other otherwise available for execution on, the computer system, such as user applicationand system application. System applicationmay correspond to one or more native applications and/or services provided by the operating system of the computer system. For example, system applicationmay monitor the connection status and/or battery status of one or more peripheral devices, such as a wireless remote control, connected to the computer system. As another example, system applicationmay monitor the status of a storage system, such as one or more hard drives connected to or installed within the computer system. User applicationmay correspond to one or more add-on and/or third-party applications and/or services, such as one or more video game applications, media streaming applications, content marketplaces or “stores”, or the like, installed on, or otherwise accessed from, the computer systemby a user. System applicationand/or user applicationmay obtain the content for display via their associated widgets from one or more content sources, such as content sources.

330 332 330 334 Content sourcesmay include a content network, including, but not limited to, a cloud-based content storage and/or distribution system. The content sourcesmay also include system contentprovided by a data store communicatively coupled with the computer system (e.g., a hard drive, flash drive, local memory, external drive, optical drive, etc.).

362 302 304 308 308 302 304 308 308 300 310 a l The widgets-may display content from system applicationand/or user applicationvia a widget application. The widget applicationmay provide an interface through which the system applicationand/or the user applicationcan display application specific information. In other words, the widget applicationmay provide one or more services that accept content from applications and present them in the form of an interactive UI widget. Additionally, or alternatively, the widget applicationmay act as a widget library and/or widget management service that provides the available widgets from the various applications and/or services of the computer systemto the dashboard applicationfor display according to one or more templates.

310 308 300 350 350 360 As further described above, the dashboard applicationmay select and display widgets according to one or more templates or layouts. As described herein, a template and/or widget layout may define a plurality of widgets available from the widget application(e.g., from the various system and/or user applications and/or services of the computer system), an order of presenting the plurality of widgets within the dashboard, a theme applied to each of the widgets (e.g., color, contrast, icons, font, etc.), and/or the presentation states of each of the plurality of widgets within the dashboard. Collectively, the selection, order, and presentation states may be referred to as an arrangementof widgets indicated by a template.

310 320 322 320 324 350 320 310 300 300 320 a n The dashboard applicationmay determine templates from preset templatesand/or custom templates. Preset templatesmay include a first set of templates-, each indicating a unique arrangement of a plurality of widgets for display within the dashboard. Preset templatesmay be defined by the dashboard applicationand/or received by the computer systemfrom an external content source, such as a developer of the computer system. Preset templatesmay be predefined based on common interests shared by groups of users. For example, a highlights template may be defined for users who are commonly interested in viewing content and/or information highlighting the latest content, information, and/or services that are available via the system and/or user applications of the computer system, as well as recent updates on the activities of other users (e.g., “friends”). A social preset template may be defined for users who are most interested in staying connected with a group of users (e.g., friends), available multiplayer activities, events, and/or results, or the like. A solo preset template may be defined for users are most commonly interested in information and content related to single-player gaming experiences and are otherwise less interested in social and/or activity updates from other users. These three preset templates are provided for illustrative purposes only and other and/or different number of preset templates are possible.

320 326 306 322 320 322 300 a n Custom templatesmay include a second set of templates-created by and/or for a specific user, such as the user. For example, custom templatesmay include one or more templates created as a result of the user making one or more modifications to a preset template of preset templates. As another example, custom templatesmay include one or more templates created for a user based on one or more historical interactions with the computer system, and/or another computer system on which the user was active.

310 320 322 306 314 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 300 306 300 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 306 The dashboard applicationmay determine the appropriate template from the preset templatesand/or the custom templatesbased on the interests of the user. The interest determining unitmay determine the interests of the user. The interests of the usermay be determined from one or more settings associated with a user account for the user. The interests of the usermay be determined from one or more privacy profile settings associated with the user. Privacy profile settings associated with the user, and/or a user account associated with the user, may be used to control who can communicate with the uservia the computer systemand/or who can see activity of the useron the computer system. Privacy profile settings may be tied to a user account and applied to any device on which the usersigns in using the user account. Privacy profile settings may control who can see shared media and recent activities from games, who can send friend requests, follow activity, see other connections, see personal information about the user(e.g., the user's real name), and/or communicate with the user. Privacy profile settings may include a social and open profile setting indicating that the useris open to all requests and messages, and/or that any other user can see the profile information for the user. Privacy profile settings may include a team player setting indicating that any other user can see the profile information of the user, but that they need to be at least a friend of a friend to initiate communication with the user. Privacy profile settings may include a friend focused setting indicating that only friends of the usercan see information about the userand/or invite the userto chat. A solo and focused setting may indicate that no other users can see the profile information of the useror invite the userto chat, even if the user has added them as a friend. In some embodiments, the privacy profile setting defaults to a most restrictive setting to protect the privacy of the user. In some embodiments, the user account may include an indication of whether or not the user has reviewed, modified, and/or accepted the default privacy profile setting.

306 306 300 306 300 306 314 306 306 306 306 306 Additionally, or alternatively, the interests of the usermay be determined from one or more historical interactions by the userwith content on the computer system. The historical interactions by the usermay indicate a frequency and/or proportion of time spent on the computer systeminteracting with various types of content. Depending on the type of contents with which the usermost frequently interacts, the interest determining unitmay determine the interests of the user. For example, historical interactions by the userindicating that the user frequently interacts with social media type services and content, such as chat messages from friends, multiplayer activities and/or statistics, shared media from other users, or the like, may be used to determine that the useris interested in social and/or multiplayer content. As another example, historical interactions by the userindicating that the user frequently interacts with single-player games, media applications (e.g., music, video, news, etc.), personal in-game achievements and/or statistics, or the like, may be used to determine that the useris interested in solo or single-player content.

314 306 306 306 In some embodiments, the interest determining unitgenerates and/or maintains a ranking of interests for the user. A ranking of interests for a user may indicate the relative level of interest in each type of content that the user may have at any given and/or at a particular point in time. The ranking of interests may be based on the relative frequency with which the userinteracts with each type of content corresponding to an identifiable interest. For example, if the userinteracts with social media type applications and/or content more frequently than single-player content, the ranking of interests may be generated with a social media interest ranked higher than a single-player interest.

312 306 314 312 306 312 314 The order determining unitmay determine an order of presenting widgets within a template based on the interests of the user(e.g., as determined by interest determining unit). In some embodiments, widgets are associated with a specific interest indicating that the type of content displayed by the widget corresponds to the specific interest. Based on the type of content displayed by each widget, order determining unitmay determine an order of presenting the widgets that aligns with the interests of the user. For example, order determining unitmay create a ranking of widgets that corresponds to the ranking of interests from the interest determining unit, with widgets corresponding to the highest ranked interest being placed earlier in the order of presentation than widgets corresponding to lower ranked interests.

316 312 352 350 350 340 316 352 354 350 316 316 The arrangement determining unitmay determine the arrangement of presenting widgets within a template. As described above, the arrangement of presenting widgets within a template may indicate the individual display position for each widget and/or the presentation state for each widget. As described above, the display position for a widget may correspond to a location, position, slot, or other identifiable place or position within a predefined dashboard structure, such as a tabular structure. As further described above, the presentation state may include the size of the widget within the arrangement and/or the number of display positions that the widget will occupy within a predefined dashboard structure. The arrangement may adhere to a predefined order of presenting the widgets (e.g., as determined by the order determining unit). For example, widgets identified earlier in the order may be assigned an earlier display position within a predefined dashboard structure or layout while widgets identified later in the order are assigned a later display position within the predefined dashboard structure. In some embodiments, the arrangement is determined based on the size of a first portionof the dashboardthat will be immediately visible upon displaying the dashboardon the display. For example, arrangement determining unitmay set the display position and/or presentation state of a subset of widgets to maximize the number of widgets in a first part of the order (e.g., corresponding to a highest ranked interest) that will be displayed within the first portion, with lower ranked and/or ordered widgets being added to the arrangement in display positions and/or presentation states that will result in their being in a second portionof the dashboard. In some embodiments, the arrangement determining unitfurther determines the arrangement of presenting widgets within a template based on one or more accessibility settings. For example, one or more settings may cause the arrangement determining unitto adjust all widgets within a predefined order to their largest size to improve widget visibility.

317 306 322 317 306 317 306 317 316 306 317 306 317 306 The template editing unitmay provide one or more sets of functionalities that allow the userto create and/or modify custom templates, such as custom templates. For example, the template editing unitmay enable the userto add and remove widgets from a preset template. The template editing unitmay enable the userto rearrange the widgets within an arrangement indicated by a preset template, such as by changing the display position associated with one or more widgets and/or by modifying the presentation state of one or more widgets. For example, the template editing unitmay provide an accessibility toggle that allows the user to automatically increase the size of each widget within a template to its largest size. The template editing unitmay save the modifications made to a preset template as a custom template. Upon subsequent modifications by the userto the custom template, the template editing unitmay update the arrangement indicated by the custom template and/or create a new custom template. For example, in response to the usermaking modifications to the custom template, the template editing unitmay provide the userwith options to update the custom template to reflect the new modifications or save the modifications as a new custom template.

322 317 317 306 350 317 In some embodiments, the custom templatesinclude a single custom template that is updated to reflect any changes to a current template being used to display widgets in the dashboard. For example, after making modifications to a preset template, the template editing unitmay create a custom template to reflect the modified arrangement. Subsequently, upon additional modifications to the arrangement indicated by the custom template, the template editing unitmay update the custom template to reflect the modifications. In response to the userrequesting the same, or a different preset template, the dashboardmay be updated to present the widgets according to the requested preset template. In response to subsequent modifications to the requested preset template, the template editing unitmay replace the arrangement in the custom template with the new arrangement according to the modifications to the requested preset template.

318 350 318 320 322 318 306 314 318 320 318 320 314 306 306 300 318 320 314 306 318 320 314 306 The template determining unitmay determine the template for displaying the widgets in the dashboard. The template determining unitmay determine the template by selecting a template from a plurality of templates, such as preset templatesand/or custom templates. The template determining unitmay select a template based on the identified interests of the user(e.g., from interest determining unit). The template determining unitmay select a template from preset templatesthat corresponds to a privacy profile setting. For example, the template determining unitmay select a highlights template from preset templatesin response to interest determining unitdetermining that the userhas not made a selection of a privacy profile setting, has not confirmed a default privacy profile setting assigned to the userupon creating a user account, and/or is otherwise interested in viewing highlights from across the range of applications and/or services available on the computer system. As another example, the template determining unitmay select a solo template from preset templatesin response to the interest determining unitdetermining that the userhas selected a solo and focused privacy profile setting and/or that the user is otherwise more likely to be interested in viewing content related to solo activities. In yet another example, the template determining unitmay select a social template from preset templatesin response to the interest determining unitdetermining that the userhas selected a friend focused, a team player, and/or a social and open privacy profile setting, and/or that the user is otherwise more likely to be interested in viewing content related to activities performed by and/or with other users.

318 350 318 318 306 318 314 318 308 318 318 312 316 318 The template determining unitmay determine the template for displaying the widgets in the dashboardby generating one or more templates. The template determining unitmay generate one or more templates based on interests common to groups of users, as described above. Additionally, or alternatively, the template determining unitmay generate one or more custom templates for a particular user, such as the user. The template determining unitmay generate the one or more custom templates for a particular user based on the interests of the user (e.g., as determined by the interest determining unit). The template determining unitmay select a subset of widgets (e.g., from the widget application) based on the interests of the particular user. Additionally, or alternatively, the template determining unitmay receive a selection of the subset of widgets, or a selection of a subset of widget categories from the user. The template determining unitmay provide the subset of widgets and/or the interests of the user to the order determining unitand/or the arrangement determining unitto generate the arrangement of the subset of widgets according to an order that aligns with the interests of the user. The template determining unitmay then store the arrangement in association with a new custom template for the user.

318 320 322 306 318 306 318 318 350 306 317 306 314 The template determining unitmay select a template from the preset templatesand/or custom templatesbased on one or more interactions by the user. For example, the template determining unitmay select a particular template in response to a request from the userfor that particular template. In some embodiments, the template determining unitselects the template based on the most recently selected and/or modified template. The template determining unitmay use the same template for displaying widgets in the dashboarduntil the userrequests a different template for display and/or modifies the arrangement indicated by the current template. Additionally, or alternatively, the template determining unitmay dynamically select templates for display based on the current interests of the user(e.g., as determined by the interest determining unit).

4 FIG. 400 400 402 402 illustrates an example of a dashboard interface, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the dashboard interfaceincludes an arrangementof interactive UI widgets. As described above, the arrangementmay be indicated by a template determined based on one or more settings associated with a user account of a user, one or more interests of the user, or the like.

400 406 406 406 408 402 406 400 406 406 400 406 400 400 As further illustrated, the dashboard interfaceincludes a temporary widget. As described herein, a temporary widget, or “transient widget,” may be a system widget that appears briefly to provide time-sensitive, contextual information or options to a user. The placement of the temporary widgetwithin the dashboard interface may be selected so as not to interfere with the placement of other widgets while still capturing the attention of the user. For example, and as illustrated, the temporary widgetmay be displayed adjacent to (e.g., above or to the side) of a first widgetin the arrangement. Temporary widgets may be removed from the dashboard interface after their purpose has been accomplished. For example, the temporary widgetmay no longer be displayed within the dashboard interfacein response to the user interacting with the temporary widget. Additionally, or alternatively, temporary widgets may be removed after a predetermined amount of time and/or after a predetermined number of presentations within the dashboard interface. For example, the temporary widgetmay be removed after the dashboard interfacehas been displayed to the user with the temporary widgeton four, five, ten, or another suitable number of different occasions. Compared to notifications, temporary widgets may be embedded into the dashboard interfacerather than presented as an overlay window over the dashboard interface.

400 410 400 412 414 416 412 400 414 400 As further illustrated, the dashboard interfaceincludes a dashboard utilities menu. The dashboard utilities menu may provide one or more options for editing the contents and display of the dashboard interface, such as a template editing option, a template selection option, and a background editor option. As described further below, the template editing optionmay surface one or more controls that enable the user to edit the selection, arrangement, and/or presentation states of widgets within the dashboard interface. Likewise, the template selection optionmay surface one or more controls that enable the user to switch between one or more preset templates of displaying the widgets in the dashboard interface.

416 416 400 The background editor optionmay surface one or more controls that enable the user to edit the background image over which the widgets are displayed. In some embodiments, the background editor optionlaunches a background selection page. The background selection page may allow a user to choose a background for the dashboard interfacefrom still and/or dynamic images generated by one or more developers, such as the developer of the computer system and/or one or more application developers. Additionally, or alternatively, the background selection page may allow a user to choose a background image from the user's own media library, which may include images saved by the user on the computer system, images uploaded to the computer system, or the like.

5 FIG. 4 FIG. 500 502 500 414 400 500 502 504 500 502 504 500 502 500 502 504 500 illustrates an example of a dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a dashboard template menu, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The dashboard interfacemay be presented in response to a user interaction with a template selection option, such as template selection optiondescribed above. Compared to the dashboard interfaceof, the dashboard interfacehas been updated to include the dashboard template menuadjacent to an arrangementof widgets. Updating the dashboard interfaceto include the dashboard template menumay include shifting the display of the arrangementof widgets within the dashboard interfaceto make room for the display of the dashboard template menu. Additionally, or alternatively, updating the dashboard interfaceto include the dashboard template menumay include shrinking the size of the display of the arrangementof widgets so that a same subset of widgets remain visible within the dashboard interface.

502 506 500 502 506 1 500 502 502 506 504 500 2 a d a b The dashboard template menumay include a plurality of UI elements-corresponding to preset templates that are available for use in displaying the widgets in the dashboard interface. The dashboard template menumay include a visual indicator of the active template. For example, and as illustrated, the UI elementmay be displayed with a checkmark to indicate that “Template” will be used to display the widgets in the dashboard interfaceupon dismissing the dashboard template menu. The dashboard template menumay further include an indicator of the currently selected template. For example, and as illustrated, a border of the UI elementmay be emphasized relative to the other UI elements to indicate that the arrangementof widgets currently being displayed in the dashboard interfaceis in accordance with “Template.”

500 506 502 506 506 500 508 3 500 508 3 506 a d c b b. In some embodiments, the arrangement of widgets within the dashboard interfaceis updated in response to user interactions navigating between UI elements-within the dashboard template menu. For example, in response to a user interaction selecting UI element(e.g., by scrolling down from UI element), the dashboard interfacemay be updated to display a second arrangementaccording to the corresponding “Template.” Additionally, or alternatively, the dashboard interfacemay be updated to display the second arrangementin response to a further interaction setting “Template” as the active template, as further indicated by the checkmark in UI element

6 FIG. 4 FIG. 600 602 600 412 400 600 602 600 602 600 602 600 602 600 602 illustrates an example of a dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a widget menu, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The dashboard interfacemay be presented in response to a user interaction with a template editing option, such as the template editing optiondescribed above. Compared to the dashboard interfaceof, the dashboard interfacehas been updated to include the widget menuadjacent to an arrangement of widgets. Updating the dashboard interfaceto include the widget menumay include shifting the arrangement of widgets within the dashboard interfaceto make room for the display of the widget menu. Additionally, or alternatively, updating the dashboard interfaceto include the widget menumay include shrinking the display size of the arrangement of widgets so that a same subset of widgets remains visible within the dashboard interface. While the arrangement of widgets may be shifted and/or resized to allow for the display of the widget menu, the contents of each widget may remain the same. In this way, the user can see a live preview of the arrangement of widgets as they edit the template.

602 606 606 608 606 608 606 608 606 602 608 602 602 602 602 606 602 a k a k a a g g a k a k a The widget menumay include a plurality of UI elements-. Each of the plurality of UI elements-may correspond to one of the widgets. For example, and as illustrated, the UI elementmay correspond to the widgetand the UI elementmay correspond to the widget. In some embodiments, the UI elements-are displayed within the widget menuin the same order of presentation as their corresponding widgets-. Within the widget menu, the UI element that is currently in focus may be emphasized relative to other UI elements in the widget menu. The UI element that is in focus may be a default UI element that is selected upon presenting the widget menu. For example, and as illustrated, the size of the borders of the first UI element in the widget menu(e.g., UI element) may be increased relative to the borders of the other UI elements in the widget menu.

600 600 608 600 608 608 600 608 a a a a The display of the widget in the dashboard interfacecorresponding to the in-focus UI element may also be emphasized relative to other widgets displayed in the dashboard interface. For example, and as illustrated, the size of the borders of the widgetmay be increased relative to the size of the borders for the other widgets within the dashboard interface. While illustrated and described as increasing the size of a widget's or other UI element's border, other methods of emphasizing UI elements and/or widgets may be used. For example, rather than increasing the size of the boarders for the widget, the opacity of the entire widgetmay be increased relative to the opacity of the other widgets in the dashboard interfaceand/or the opacities of the other widgets may be decreased relative to the opacity of widget. Additionally, or alternatively, widgets may be emphasized relative to other widgets by increasing the clarity of an emphasized widget relative to other widgets so that the emphasized widget appears to be in focus while the contents of other widgets appear blurred.

602 602 606 600 602 602 606 608 600 608 600 g g g g As the user navigates within the widget menu(e.g., by moving a cursor or supplying a directional input control), the UI element that is in focus may be updated. For example, in response to a user navigating down within the widget menu, the UI elementmay be emphasized to indicate that it is currently in focus. Similarly, the display of widgets within the dashboard interfacemay be updated in response to navigations within the widget menu. For example, in response to the navigation within the widget menuthat results in the UI elementbeing in focus, the corresponding widgetmay be emphasized. Additionally, or alternatively, the display of widgets within the dashboard interfacemay be shifted to center the corresponding widgetwithin the visible portion of the arrangement of widgets in the dashboard interface.

7 FIG. 7 FIG. 600 606 602 702 702 600 702 606 608 600 608 608 608 a k g g h g f illustrates an example of the dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a widget visibility control, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, each of the UI elements-in the widget menumay include a visibility control slider. The visibility control slidermay allow a user to control whether the corresponding widget will be included in the widgets displayed in the dashboard interface. For example, and as illustrated, in response to a user interaction with the visibility control sliderof the UI element, the corresponding widgetmay be hidden from display within the dashboard interface. In response to a user removing a widget from the arrangement, the arrangement may be updated so that another widget occupies the display position of the removed widget. For example, and as illustrated, widgethas been moved to take the place originally occupied by the widget. As another example, a widget that was previously adjacent to the removed widget (e.g., widget) may be expanded in size to occupy the display position.

8 FIG. 8 FIG. 600 602 600 608 606 602 606 606 606 602 608 606 602 g g g h g h h illustrates another example of the dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with the widget menu, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, while the arrangement of widgets in the dashboard interfacemay be updated to provide the user with a preview of the arrangement after removing a widget (e.g., the widget), the corresponding UI element (e.g., UI element) may remain visible within the widget menu. In response to a subsequent navigation within the widget menu, the UI element corresponding to the removed widget may similarly be removed from the widget menu. For example, and as illustrated, in response to a user interaction navigating away from the UI elementto the UI element, the UI elementmay be removed from the display of the widget menu. As further illustrated, the corresponding widgetmay be emphasized relative to the other widgets in response to the UI elementbeing in focus within the widget menu.

9 FIG. 9 FIG. 600 602 602 606 602 608 702 606 600 608 g g g g illustrates another example of the dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a widget visibility control, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the widget menuincludes UI elements corresponding to widgets that are not currently visible and/or included in the arrangement of widgets displayed within the dashboard interface. As illustrated in, the UI elements that correspond to the hidden widgets may be displayed at an end of the widget menu. For example, and as illustrated, the UI elementmay be moved to the bottom of the widget menuin response to the corresponding widgetbeing removed from the arrangement. In response to a subsequent user interaction with the visibility control sliderof the UI element, the arrangement of widgets displayed in the dashboard interfacemay be updated to include the corresponding widget. In some embodiments, adding a widget to the arrangement results in the widget being added at the next available display position at the end of the arrangement. Additionally, or alternatively, adding a widget that was previously removed from the arrangement may result in the widget being added to the arrangement in its previous display position prior to its removal.

702 602 602 702 While illustrated and described as being added and/or removed from the arrangement in response to an interaction with the visibility control sliderin the widget menu, other implementations are possible. For example, while a UI element in the widget menuis in focus or otherwise selected as the widget to receive modifications, an interaction with a predefined button or control input of a remote control may have the same effect as toggling the slider in the UI element to add or remove the corresponding widget from the arrangement. Similarly, while the visibility control slideris illustrated as a slider, other UI elements may be used to achieve a similar effect, such as a check box, a radio button, or the like.

10 FIG. 10 FIG. 600 606 602 1002 1002 600 1002 600 a f illustrates an example of the dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a widget relocation control, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, each of the UI elements-in the widget menumay include a relocation controller. The relocation controllermay allow a user to modify the display position of the corresponding widget within the arrangement displayed in the dashboard interface. In some embodiments, a user interaction with the relocation controllerresults in one or more relocation controls being displayed within the dashboard interface.

1004 608 1002 1004 608 608 1004 608 a a a a The one or more relocation controls may include direction indicators. For example, and as illustrated, arrowsmay be displayed adjacent to widgetin response to an interaction with the relocation controller. The arrowsmay indicate that the possible directions in which the widgetmay be moved are to the right and/or downward within the arrangement of widgets. The widgetmay be relocated in relation to the other widgets in response to an a user interaction (e.g., a selection) with of one of the arrows. Additionally, or alternatively, the widgetmay be relocated in relation to the other widgets in response to the user interacting with a corresponding directional control input of a control device, such as a physical scroll wheel, joystick, and/or direction pad of a remote control device.

1006 608 608 608 608 608 608 a b c a c d. The one or more relocation controls may further include future position indicators to illustrate the proposed location of the widget relative to other widgets. For example, and as further illustrated, barsmay be displayed within the dashboard interface to indicate that, in response to a downward input, the widgetwill be relocated within the arrangement between the widgetand the widget, or that, in response to an input to the right, the widgetwill be relocated within the arrangement between the widgetand the widget

608 608 608 608 608 606 606 606 a b c a c a c d. In response to inputs from the user relocating a widget, the arrangement of widgets displayed in the dashboard interface may be updated to display the widget in its new position. For example, and as illustrated, in response to a user input moving the widgetto the right within the arrangement, the widgetand the widgetmay be shifted to new display positions and the widgetmay be located in the display position previously occupied by the widget. Similarly, the display of the corresponding UI element may be updated within the widget menu to reflect the new order of widgets in the arrangement. For example, and as illustrated, the UI elementmay be displayed between the UI elementand the UI element

11 FIG. 11 FIG. 600 606 602 1102 1102 600 1102 600 a f illustrates an example of the dashboard interfacein response to an interaction with a widget presentation state control, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, each of the UI elements-in the widget menumay include a presentation state controller. The presentation state controllermay allow a user to modify the presentation state of the corresponding widget within the arrangement displayed in the dashboard interface. In some embodiments, a user interaction with the presentation state controllerresults in one or more presentation state controls being displayed within the dashboard interface.

1104 600 1102 606 1104 608 606 1106 1108 1110 1106 1108 1110 c c c The one or more presentation state controls may include a presentation state menu with options for choosing between one or more possible presentation states for the corresponding widget. For example, and as illustrated, an overlay windowmay be displayed over a portion of the arrangement of widgets in the dashboard interfacein response to a user interaction with the presentation state controllerof the UI element. The overlay windowmay include the possible presentation states for the widgetthat corresponds to the UI element. In this example, the presentation states may include a small presentation state, a medium presentation state, and a large presentation state. As illustrated, the small presentation statecorresponds to a widget size that takes up a single display position within the arrangement of widgets, the medium presentation statecorresponds to a widget size that takes up two display positions in a column, and the large presentation statecorresponds to a widget size that takes up three display positions in a column.

While illustrated and described as representing different display sizes, and/or numbers of display positions in a same column for the corresponding widget, additional and/or alternative types of presentation states may be possible. For example, different presentation states may be defined for various widget shapes, such as circular widgets, oval widgets, square widgets, or the like. As another example, different presentation states may be defined for various combinations of sizes and orientations, such as a horizontal widget that takes up multiple display positions within a same row, a vertical widget that takes up multiple display positions within a same column, and/or a rectangular widget that takes up multiple display positions across multiple rows and columns.

1106 1104 608 1105 1106 1110 600 608 c c In some embodiments, the presentation state menu includes a visual indicator of the currently selected and/or active presentation state for the corresponding widget. For example, and as illustrated, the small presentation statemay be emphasized within the overlay windowto indicate that the widgetis currently being displayed in the small presentation state. In response to navigation within the presentation state menu, the display of the corresponding widget in the dashboard interface may be updated to preview visual effect of the presentation state that is currently in focus in the menu. For example, and as illustrated, in response to navigation within the overlay windowfrom the small presentation stateto the large presentation state, the dashboard interfacemay be updated to present the widgetin the corresponding presentation state that occupies three display positions in the same column.

12 FIG. 6 FIG. 6 FIG. 6 11 FIGS.- 1200 1200 412 1200 1202 602 1202 1202 1204 1206 1204 1202 602 illustrates another example of a dashboard interfacewith an application specific widget menu, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The dashboard interfacemay be presented in response to a user interaction with a template editing option, such as the template editing optiondescribed above. As further described in relation to, the dashboard interfaceincludes a widget menu. Compared to the widget menuof, the widget menumay include multiple tabs corresponding to different categories of widgets. For example, and as illustrated, the widget menuincludes a system widget taband a developer widget tab. Selecting the system widget tabmay result in the widget menubeing populated with UI elements corresponding to applications and/or services provided by the computer system, such as the UI elements illustrated in the widget menuof.

1206 1202 1202 1208 1208 1208 1202 1208 1202 1210 1208 a b a a d Selecting the developer widget tabmay populate the widget menuwith UI elements corresponding to after-market and/or third-party applications and/or services that may be installed or otherwise accessible to the computer system. For example, and as illustrated, the widget menuincludes a first UI elementcorresponding to a “Sports Game” application and a second UI elementcorresponding to a “Drive Game” application. In some embodiments, the UI elementsare drop-down elements. In response to an interaction with a drop-down element associated with a particular application, the widget menumay be populated with widget control elements representing application widgets provided by the particular application. In response to an interaction with the first UI element, the widget menumay be populated with widget elements-that correspond to different widgets provided by the “Sports Game” application. Additionally, or alternatively, the UI elementsmay be non-interactive elements used to visually separate and identify widget elements associated with one application from widget elements associated with another application. As described herein, application widgets may function in the same or similar manner as system widgets, in that they may present content and other information. However, compared to system widgets, application widgets may be configured by and/or populated by a third-party application.

6 FIG. 7 11 FIGS.- 1202 1202 1210 1212 1212 a a b g As further described in reference to, the widget element in the widget menuthat is currently in-focus, and its corresponding widget, may be emphasized relative to other widget elements and their corresponding widgets. For example, and as illustrated, in response to one or more user interactions and/or navigations within the widget menuresulting in the widget elementbeing in focus, the corresponding widgetmay be emphasized relative to the other widgets-. The order, arrangement, selection, and presentation states of application widgets may be modified in the same or similar ways as described above in reference to. For example, application widgets may be added and/or removed from the arrangement of widgets, relocated to different locations within the arrangement, or the like.

13 FIG. 1300 1300 illustrates an example flowfor presenting widgets in a page, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The operations of the flowcan be implemented as hardware circuitry and/or stored as computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium of a computer system, such as a video game system. As implemented, the instructions represent modules that include circuitry or code executable by a processor(s) of the computer system. The execution of such instructions configures the computer system to perform the specific operations described herein. Each circuitry or code in combination with the processor represents a means for performing a respective operation(s). While the operations are illustrated in a particular order, it should be understood that no particular order is necessary and that one or more operations may be omitted, skipped, and/or reordered.

1302 In an example, the flow includes operation, where the computer system determines profile information associated with a user of the computer system. The profile information may include one or more interests of the user. The one or more interests of the user may be determined from one or more account settings for an account associated with the user. For example, and as described above, the one or more account settings may include privacy profile settings. The one or more interests of the user may be determined from historical interactions by the user. The historical interactions by the user may include previous interactions with content related to each of the one or more interests. The historical interactions by the user may be interactions on the computer system, and/or another computer system on which the user has accessed content while logged in on the same user account. In some embodiments, the profile information comprises a geographic location associated with the computer system.

1304 200 400 600 1200 220 225 In an example, the flow includes operation, where the computer system presents a page in a GUI. The page may be a welcome page, a landing page, a menu interface (e.g., the menu interface), a dashboard interface (e.g., the dashboard interface, the dashboard interface, and/or the dashboard interface), or a similar visual interface capable of being rendered on a display connected to the computer system. The page may include a first portion that is immediately visible upon presenting the page (e.g., the first portion) and a second portion that becomes visible in response to navigation inputs within the page (e.g., the second portion). The page may include a plurality of display positions in a structured layout. For example, and as described above, the page may define a tabular structure with a predefined number of columns and/or rows. Each of the plurality of display positions may have a uniform size within the structured layout.

1306 In an example, the flow includes an operation, where the computer system determines a first template that indicates a first arrangement of widgets based on the profile information. As described above, widgets may be customizable and/or modular UI elements that offer control over content display based on individual interests. The first template may be one of a plurality of templates. The first arrangement of widgets may be different from that of other templates of the plurality of templates. Each template of the plurality of templates may indicate a different arrangement of a plurality of widgets. An arrangement may define a display position and a presentation state within the structured layout of the page for each of the plurality of widget identified by the arrangement. The display position and the presentation state for a widget may define a starting display position within the structured layout and an area (e.g., a number of display positions) occupied by the widget within the structure layout. The plurality of widgets identified by the arrangement may include all or a subset of widgets provided by or otherwise available on the computer system.

Determining the first template may include determining that a subset of the widgets that will be presented in the first portion of the page are relevant to the profile information associated with the user. Determining the first template may include selecting the first template from the plurality of templates based on a relevance of the first template to the profile information associated with the user. For example, based on profile information indicating that the user is interested in social activities and content, the first template may be selected based on its arrangement being designed to appeal to users who are interested in social activities and content. Arrangements may be designed to appeal to particular interests by including widgets related to those interests early within the arrangement and/or in a more prominent presentation state.

In some embodiments, determining the first template includes generating a custom template and/or arrangement based on the profile information associated with the user. Generating a custom arrangement may include determining a relevance of each available widget from the computer system to the profile information associated with the user. Based on the relevance of each widget, an order of presenting the widgets within the page may be determined. For example, each widget may be assigned a relevance score. The widgets may then be ranked according to their relevance score. The ranking of widgets may then be used as the order of presenting the widgets within the page.

In some embodiments, determining the first template includes determining a display position and a presentation state (e.g., a display size) for each widget in the arrangement. The display position and presentation state of a subset of the widgets may be selected based on the size of the first portion of the page that will be immediately visible. For example, the display positions and presentation states for a subset of the widgets that are determined to be most relevant to the profile information may be selected so that the subset of the widgets will fit within the first portion of the page and/or fully occupy the first portion of the page.

In some embodiments, each arrangement of the plurality of templates includes all of the widgets available from the computer system. In such cases, each arrangement may differ in the display order of the widgets and/or in the presentation states of the widgets. In some embodiments, each arrangement of the plurality of templates includes a different subset of the widgets available from the computer system. For example, each different subset of the widgets may be selected for inclusion in an arrangement based on those widgets being associated with and/or otherwise relevant to the profile information of the user. In some embodiments, determining the first template includes determining the geographic location of the computer system. Different templates may be defined for different geographic regions (e.g., countries). Templates defined for different geographic regions may include different subsets of widgets. For example, some widgets that do not comply with local laws and/or regulations may be restricted from inclusion in templates defined for certain geographic regions.

1308 In an example, the flow includes an operation, where the computer system presents the widgets in the page arranged according to the first arrangement. Presenting the widgets according to the first arrangement may include presenting the widgets in an order determined by the first arrangement. Presenting the widgets according to the first arrangement may include presenting the widgets in the display positions and presentation states defined by the first arrangement.

1300 In an example, the flowmay further include an operation where the computer system receives a request to review the plurality of templates. For example, the page may include a UI element where, in response to a selection of the UI element, the computer system presents a template menu comprising the plurality of templates. The template menu may include an indication that the first template is currently selected and/or that the widgets in the page are being presented according to the arrangement indicated by the first template. The template menu may be presented while the widgets remain visible in the page. In response to an interaction with a second template in the template menu, the page may be updated to present the widgets according to a second arrangement indicated by the second template. The updates to the page may occur while the template menu remains visible. Concurrently displaying the template menu and the widgets may reduce unnecessary processing associated with additional navigation and rendering requests by allowing the user to view a live preview of the widgets according to a different template before dismissing the template menu.

1300 14 FIG. In an example, the flowmay further include an operation where the computer system receives a modification to the first arrangement, resulting in a new arrangement of widgets within the page. As described in further reference to, the page may include a UI element where, in response to a selection of the UI element, the computer system provides one or more controls for modifying the first arrangement, such as by adding or removing a widget from the arrangement, moving a widget to a new display position within the arrangement, and/or modifying the presentation state of a widget. The one or more controls may be displayed, accessed, and/or activated concurrently with the display of the widgets within the page. Likewise, the modifications to the widgets in the page may be displayed concurrently with the display of the controls. By concurrently displaying the controls, the widgets, and the modifications, the computer system may reduce excess processing associated with the user navigating between a separate control pages and the resulting changes to the display of widgets.

1300 In an example, the flowmay further include an operation where the computer system creates a new template with the modified arrangement of widgets. Once created, the new template may be stored as a custom template with the plurality of preset templates. In some embodiments, the computer system allows the user to save subsequent modifications as a new custom template or to replace the existing arrangement of the custom template with the subsequent modifications. Additionally, or alternatively, a single custom template may be used to record the most recent modifications to any template. For example, after initially creating a custom template, the user may make subsequent modifications to the arrangement of widgets indicated by custom template, and the resulting modifications may be stored in the same custom template, effectively replacing the initial arrangement indicated by the custom template. As another example, the user may return the first or another preset template and make modifications to the corresponding arrangement, which modifications may then be stored in the custom template.

1300 In an example, the flowmay further include an operation where the computer system receives a notification comprising information about a new computing service available to the computer system. The new computing service may include a new widget available for addition to the page, new tips or guides for interacting with the computing system, new applications available for installation, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the notification may comprise information about existing computing services, such as the status of a download or upload, the status of a subscription, the status of an application trial, or other time-sensitive and/or contextual information or options that are relevant to the user's current context and/or interactions with the computer system. In response, the computer system may display a temporary widget in the page. The temporary widget may be displayed at a beginning of the arrangement, such as in a first display position within the arrangement. Additionally, or alternatively, the temporary widget may be displayed in a dedicated display position outside of the arrangement of widgets (e.g., without affecting the existing display of widgets within the page). The temporary widget may include the information about the new computing service and/or contextual information. The temporary widget may be removed from the page once the purpose of its display has been achieved and/or is no longer relevant. For example, the temporary widget may be removed in response to an interaction with the temporary widget that results in additional information about the new computing service being displayed to the user. As another example, the temporary widget may be removed upon completion of a download or installation of an application for which the temporary widget was displaying the status.

14 FIG. 14 FIG. 13 FIG. 1400 illustrates an example flowfor editing an arrangement of widgets in a dashboard, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The operations of the flow can be implemented as hardware circuitry and/or stored as computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium of a computer system, such as a video game system. As implemented, the instructions represent modules that include circuitry or code executable by a processor(s) of the computer system. The execution of such instructions configures the computer system to perform the specific operations described herein. Each circuitry or code in combination with the processor represents a means for performing a respective operation(s). While the operations are illustrated in a particular order, it should be understood that no particular order is necessary and that one or more operations may be omitted, skipped, and/or reordered. The example flow incan be performed in conjunction with or separately from the example flow in.

1400 1402 13 FIG. In an example, the flowincludes an operation, where the computer system presents an arrangement of widgets in a page based on a first template. The arrangement of widgets in the page according to the first template may be presented as described above in reference to. As further described above, the page may include UI elements that allow the user to edit the arrangement of widgets.

1400 1404 602 In an example, the flowincludes an operation, where the computer system presents a set of editing controls while the arrangement of widgets in the page remains visible. As described above, the set of editing controls may be presented in response to a request to edit the arrangement of widgets (e.g., via an interaction with a UI element in the page). The set of editing controls may be presented as a widget editing menu. For example, and as described above in relation to widget menu, the widget editing menu may include a set of editing controls each corresponding to a widget in the arrangement and/or otherwise available for addition to the arrangement. Each editing control may include one or more selectable options for modifying a display of the corresponding widget. For example, each editing control may include a visibility option that controls whether the corresponding widget is included or excluded from the arrangement. As another example, each editing control may include one or more options that allow the user to modify the presentation state of the corresponding widget and/or move the corresponding widget to a different location or position within the arrangement.

In some embodiments, each editing control includes an indication of the corresponding widget, and/or the underlying application and/or service associated with the corresponding widget. For example, each editing control may include text identifying the name of the corresponding widget. As another example, each editing control may include an icon associated with the corresponding widget.

In some embodiments, the set of editing controls are presented according to a same order as the order in which the widgets are displayed in the arrangement. Editing controls corresponding to widgets that are not included in the arrangement may be displayed at the end of the order of editing controls that correspond to visible widgets in the arrangement. In response to a widget being removed from the arrangement, the set of editing controls may be updated so that the corresponding editing control is displayed at the end of the set of editing controls.

1400 1406 In an example, the flowincludes an operation, where the computer system presents a modification to a widget in the arrangement in response to an interaction with an editing control corresponding to the widget. The presentation of the modification may be performed while the page continues to be presented. As described above, the interaction with the editing control may include a selection of an option to remove the widget from the arrangement and presenting the modification may include removing the widget from the page. Presenting the modification may further include shifting a subset of the widgets that were lower in the order into a higher display position. As another example, the interaction with the editing control may include a selection of an option to add the widget to the arrangement and presenting the modification may include adding the widget to an end of the arrangement of widgets. Additionally, or alternatively, presenting the modification may include adding the widget to a position within the arrangement that was previously occupied by the widget before it was removed. In response, the widget at that position, as well as widgets in lower positions, may be shifted to accommodate the display of the widget at that position. In yet another example, the interaction may include a selection of an option to move the widget to a new position and presenting the modification may include displaying the widget at the new position and shifting a subset of the widgets that are lower in the display order into later display positions. In another example, the interaction may include a selection of an option to resize the first widget, and presenting the modification may include increasing or decreasing a display size of the widget within the arrangement.

In some embodiments, interactions with editing controls include navigations from one editing control to the another. In response to navigations from one editing control to another, the display of widgets in the page may be updated. For example, as the focus changes from one editing control to another, the widget corresponding to the editing control that is currently in focus may be emphasized within the page. Emphasizing a particular widget may include increasing the display opacity of the particular widget relative to the other widgets displayed in the page and/or decreasing the display opacity of the other widgets relative to the display opacity of the particular widget. Additionally, or alternatively, emphasizing a particular widget may cause the widget to be displayed in greater focus compared to the other widgets displayed in the page. In some embodiments, navigating from one editing control to another further causes the display of the arrangement of widgets to be shifted within the page. The arrangement may be shifted within the page to center the widget corresponding to the selected editing control within the page.

1400 In an example, the flowmay further include an operation where the computer system creates a new template with the arrangement of widgets as modified by the user. Once created, the arrangement in the new template may be updated in response to each subsequent modification. Additionally, or alternatively, the arrangement in the new template may be updated in response to a user interaction requesting that the current arrangement of widgets displayed in the page be saved to the new template.

15 FIG. 1500 1500 1505 1505 1510 1505 1515 1520 1500 1525 1500 1555 1505 1510 1515 1500 1505 1510 1515 1520 1525 1555 1560 illustrates an example of a hardware system suitable for implementing a computer system, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer systemrepresents, for example, a video game system, a backend set of servers, or other types of a computer system. The computer systemincludes a central processing unit (CPU)for running software applications and optionally an operating system. The CPUmay be made up of one or more homogeneous or heterogeneous processing cores. Memorystores applications and data for use by the CPU. Storageprovides non-volatile storage and other computer readable media for applications and data and may include fixed disk drives, removable disk drives, flash memory devices, and CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, or other optical storage devices, as well as signal transmission and storage media. User input devicescommunicate user inputs from one or more users to the computer system, examples of which may include keyboards, mice, joysticks, touch pads, touch screens, still or video cameras, and/or microphones. Network interfaceallows the computer systemto communicate with other computer systems via an electronic communications network, and may include wired or wireless communication over local area networks and wide area networks such as the Internet. An audio processoris adapted to generate analog or digital audio output from instructions and/or data provided by the CPU, memory, and/or storage. The components of computer system, including the CPU, memory, data storage, user input devices, network interface, and audio processorare connected via one or more data buses.

1530 1560 1500 1530 1535 1540 1540 1540 1535 1535 1510 1540 1505 1505 1535 1535 1510 1540 1535 1535 A graphics subsystemis further connected with the data busand the components of the computer system. The graphics subsystemincludes a graphics processing unit (GPU)and graphics memory. The graphics memoryincludes a display memory (e.g., a frame buffer) used for storing pixel data for each pixel of an output image. The graphics memorycan be integrated in the same device as the GPU, connected as a separate device with the GPU, and/or implemented within the memory. Pixel data can be provided to the graphics memorydirectly from the CPU. Alternatively, the CPUprovides the GPUwith data and/or instructions defining the desired output images, from which the GPUgenerates the pixel data of one or more output images. The data and/or instructions defining the desired output images can be stored in the memoryand/or graphics memory. In an embodiment, the GPUincludes 3D rendering capabilities for generating pixel data for output images from instructions and data defining the geometry, lighting, shading, texturing, motion, and/or camera parameters for a scene. The GPUcan further include one or more programmable execution units capable of executing shader programs.

1530 1540 1550 1550 1500 1500 1550 The graphics subsystemperiodically outputs pixel data for an image from the graphics memoryto be displayed on the display device. The display devicecan be any device capable of displaying visual information in response to a signal from the computer system, including CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays. The computer systemcan provide the display devicewith an analog or digital signal.

1505 1505 In accordance with various embodiments, the CPUis one or more general-purpose microprocessors having one or more processing cores. Further embodiments can be implemented using one or more CPUswith microprocessor architectures specifically adapted for highly parallel and computationally intensive applications, such as media and interactive entertainment applications.

The components of a system may be connected via a network, which may be any combination of the following: the Internet, an IP network, an intranet, a wide-area network (“WAN”), a local-area network (“LAN”), a virtual private network (“VPN”), the Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”), or any other type of network supporting data communication between devices described herein, in different embodiments. A network may include both wired and wireless connections, including optical links. Many other examples are possible and apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. In the discussion herein, a network may or may not be noted specifically.

In the foregoing specification, the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further, the invention can be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond those described herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

It should be noted that the methods, systems, and devices discussed above are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed that various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, the methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “memory” or “memory unit” may represent one or more devices for storing data, including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices, or other computer-readable mediums for storing information. The term “computer-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, a sim card, other smart cards, and various other mediums capable of storing, containing, or carrying instructions or data.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a computer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors may perform the necessary tasks.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain. “About” includes within a tolerance of ±0.01%, ±0.1%, ±1%, ±2%, ±3%, ±4%, ±5%, ±8%, ±10%, ±15%, ±20%, ±25%, or as otherwise known in the art. “Substantially” refers to more than 76%, 85%, 90%, 100%, 105%, 109%, 109.9% or, depending on the context within which the term substantially appears, value otherwise as known in the art.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the above elements may merely be a component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.